As construction of Rookwood weir ramps up in central Queensland, the state government has amended the Fitzroy Basin water plan to accommodate the project.
The revised water plan ensures at least 50 per cent of water sold to the market from Rookwood Weir is used for agricultural purposes and supports rules and requirements regarding water trading, water sharing, environmental management and monitoring.
The $367.2 million water infrastructure project is being constructed on the Fitzroy river, 66 kilometres south west of Rockhampton to improve water security and expand agricultural growth and supply in the region.
Minister for Water Glenn Butcher said the amended water plan continued to support existing agricultural enterprises in the region while providing opportunities for new economic development to occur.
"Water sourced from the Fitzroy Basin water plan area sustains significant areas of agriculture, livestock, industry, mining and generation of electricity," Mr Butcher said.
"The amended water plan is the result of 12 months of public consultation and scientific analysis to ensure the water from Rookwood Weir supports local environmental, cultural, agricultural and urban needs into the future."
Through consultation with local irrigators in the region, the Fitzroy Basin's water management protocol has also been updated to:
- Provide for the management of the water resource across all water users in the area
- Build flexibility and resilience to better manage future demand for water
- Provide security for growers, water users, industry, banks and investors
The release of the amended water plan comes as Sunwater and its construction partners continue to deliver on-site works at Rookwood Weir.
As construction of Rookwood weir ramps up in central Queensland, the state government has amended the Fitzroy Basin water plan to accommodate the project.
The revised water plan ensures at least 50 per cent of water sold to the market from Rookwood Weir is used for agricultural purposes and supports rules and requirements regarding water trading, water sharing, environmental management and monitoring.
The $367.2 million water infrastructure project is being constructed on the Fitzroy river, 66 kilometres south west of Rockhampton to improve water security and expand agricultural growth and supply in the region.
Rookwood Weir unlocked an additional 10,000 additional megalitres of water for central Queensland in March 2021, following a funding boost from both state and federal governments.
Sunwater and its construction partners identified an opportunity in the design phase to raise the crest height of Rookwood Weir by 700mm, increasing the yield to 86,000 megalitres for water users.